Looking at Wheaton’s post-election future

Kerry O’Brien is the executive director of the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce.

On behalf of the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, congratulations to the new members of the Wheaton City Council, Wheaton Park District Board of Commissioners and CUSD 200 School Board on your recent election. Our community is fortunate to have citizens with such interest in and passion for the future of the city of Wheaton. The chamber appreciates the commitment and aspirations that all of you, incumbents and new members, bring to your elected positions.

The Wheaton Chamber’s more than 425 member businesses represent a broad spectrum of community interests. They employ thousands of local citizens, manage millions of square feet of commercial space, and consistently deliver quality products and critical services to Wheaton’s residents. The Wheaton Chamber of Commerce and its membership are keenly aware that our future is intertwined with that of the broader community. Business owners’ and managers’ decisions will be affected by the decisions your council and boards will make. Because of our shared destiny, we look forward to being actively engaged with you when new directions and critical decisions emerge.

We are excited about the future. There is tremendous new growth and development that is taking place in our city. Mariano’s Market is scheduled to open in October, Morningside Development is constructing “Wheaton 121,” a more than 300 luxury apartment complex opening October; Edward J. Hines will open a full-service lumber yard on the site of the former F.E. Wheaton Lumber Co.; and DuPage Medical Group is redeveloping downtown space with new office building. Studio Movie Grill recently renovated an old movie theater and there are numerous smaller retail developments such as Bricks Pizza , Namaste Salon, Bella Roba and The Wheaton Grand Theater, just to name a few.

We are equally excited for the opportunities that are ahead for all of us to work together to build a dynamic community poised to make the most of a future filled with promise.

Kerry O’Brien is executive director of the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce